Branding has become a hot topic. Many companies realize that they need to understand the financial value of their corporate brand and its products; manage brands strategically; and deliver implementations to customers that are relevant, differentiated and powerful to build an emotional bond and loyalty.

This course shows you how this can be done. It familiarizes you with best practices in branding, from iPod and the launch of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty to successful branding initiatives in financial, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, entertainment and a wide range of other companies.

We will focus on three topics: brand strategy and valuation; visual identity and experiential branding; and organizational branding issues. You will be asked to complete a couple of individual exercises and homeworks during the course and be part of a final group project. No midterm. No final.

The course is unique in many ways. First, it will be fun. Second, just like the topic itself, you will learn how to combine analytical and strategic thinking with creative development of ideas and implementations. You will be exposed to lots of cases of successful — and some unsuccessful — branding campaigns so that you learn what to do and what not to do in your own job. You will learn about frameworks and concepts and be equipped with methodologies and tools to manage a branding project. You will meet people from the branding industry, both from within companies and from external service suppliers, such as corporate identity firms, packaging designers, advertising firms and brand agencies. Finally, you will be participating in a group project that will bring it all together, focusing on a specific company of your choice.

Hope to see you in January. If you would like additional information on my own brand, check out www.MeetSchmitt.com.

Professor Schmitt researches, teaches, and advises corporations on creative strategy, branding, and customer experience management. Schmitt's books include Big Think Strategy, Customer Experience Management, and Experiential Marketing, which have been translated into more than 20 languages. He teaches the course Managing Brands, Identity and Experiences, and won an award for innovation in the classroom for the course Corporate Creativity. He...